Drop hammer



July 19, 1932.

F. J. VLCHEK DROP HAMMER Filed March 30, 1929 5 SheecsASheet l Parqali J- V1QK 1390a aotoa:

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9 t'toasgesa July 19, 1932. F. J. VLCHEK 1358,475

DROP HAMMER Filed March 50, 1929- 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ll'll July) 19, 1932. F. .J. VLCHEK 1,868,476

I DROP HAMMER Filed March 30, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 laavegtor Patented July 19, 1932 STATES PATENT GFFECE VLCHEK TOOL COMPANY,

OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO nnor HAMMER Application filed March 30,1929. Serial No. 351,306.

My invention relates to drop hammers, and the principal object of my invention is to provide a new and improved drop hammer, and particularly a new and improved means for controlling the raisingand releasing of the hammer head and a new and im proved drive. In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part of this application I have shown, for purposes of illustration, one form which my invention may assume, and in these drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the embodiment of my invention herein disclosed,

Figure 2 is a View mostly in side elevation but taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a top plan View,

Figure 4 is a section on the lines 4%; of Figures 1 and 2, i

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5 -5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a section on the lines 6-6 of Figures 1 and 2,

Figure 7 is a section on the lines 77 of Figures 1 and 2, Figure 8 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 88 of Figure 7,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 99 of Figure Figure 10 is a front elevation of the control mechanism operator,

' Figure 11 is a side elevation thereof,

Figure 12 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 1212 of Figure 10,

Figure 13 is an enlarged detail of the foot pedal mechanism,

Figure 14 is a fragmentary section on the line 1414 of Figure 1 while Figure 15 is a fragmentary section on the line 15-15 of Figure 9.

The embodiment of my invention herein shown comprises a base 11 formed asan integral part of a pedestal 12 by which the base 11 is supported suitably spaced from the floor, and on this base 11 rests a die bio-ch13 secured against lateral movement by means of four set screws 14 bearing against the four lateral sides of the die block 13 and screw-threadedly mounted in four lugs 15 rising from the'upper surface of the base 11.

Cooperating with the die block 13 is a die 16 removably secured to the lower face of a hammer head 17 mounted for vertical reciprocation in guides 18 which are received in grooves 19 formed in the two lateral edges of the hammer head 17 and are integral parts of two side rails 20 and 21 secured at their upper ends to a top plate 22 and at their lower ends to the base 11 on opposite sides of the die block 13 and intermediate pairs of the bosses 15.

Extendin g upwardly from the hammer head 17, through apertures 23 and 24 and 25 formed respectively in the top plate 22 and a mounting plate 26 and a dog bracket 27 is a board 28 provided for raising the hammer head 17 and operated. by means of a driving roller 29 against which the board 28 is intermittently pressed by a cooperating driven roller 30. The driving roller 29 is keyed to a drive shaft 31 driven by means of belts 32 operating on pulleys 33 carried at the two ends of the shafts 31, and the drive shaft 31 is eccentrically mounted in circular bearings 34 rotatably mounted in bearing apertures 35 formed in bearing blocks 36 rising from and integral with the mounting plate 26 secured to the upper face of the top plate 22. The two earings 34 are connected by an integral U crank 37 to which is pivoted the upper end of an adjusting rod 38 the lower end of which is adjustably fixed by means of nuts 39 screw-threadedly received thereon and flanking the two faces of an apertured boss 40 projecting from the left side rail 20 and through the opening of which the lower end of the adjusting rod 38 extends.

The roller 80 is loosely mounted on a shaft 41 eccentrically and fixedly mounted in circular bearings 42 rotatable in bearing apertures 43 in the bearing blocks 36 and connected by a housing 44 serving as a guard to enclose the roller 30.

From the above description it will be obvious that when the bearings 42 are rotated to bring the shaft 41 into position toward the board 28 the roller 30 will be advanced to force the board 28 against the driving roller 29, and the board 28 will he raised, and that when the bearings 42 are rotated to retract the shaft-41 then the roller 30 will be retracted to release the board 28, and the board 28 may drop; also that adjustment for wear may be made by altering the position of the adjusting rod '38 relative to the lug 40 thus to rotate the bearings 84 eccentrically mounting the driving shaft 31 carrying theroller A weight set screwed to the shaft 41 biases the shaft 41 and bearing 42 toward the position where .the roller 30 will. force the board 28 against the roller 29, so that the board 28 is gripped and raised, and to retract the roller 80 and release the board 28 the'bearings 42 are retracted through a lever 46 carrying at its free end a disc 47 acting'as" the follower for a cam'48 mounted upon the upper end of a shaft 49 rotatably supportedat itsnpperend in the top plate 22 and the mounting plate 26 and at its lower endin the base section of the right hand side rail 21. Mounted onthis shaft 49Iare a pair .of arms 50 and 51 extending through apertures 52 and 53 in the side rail 21 so that their-ends lie in proximity to the two lateral sides of the hammer head 17 in position to be engaged respectively by cams 54 and 55 carried on the two lateral sides of the hammer head 17, the end of the lever 50 being engaged by the cam 54 as the hammer head 17 is elevated and to rock the shaft 49 to cause the cam 48 to act through the follower 47 and lever 46 to swing the hearings 42 to retract the roller 30 and release the board 28 to vpermit the hammer head 17 to drop, I

and the end of the lever 51 being engaged by the cam 55 as the hammer head 17 is completing its drop and to rock the shaft 49 in the reverse direction to retract the cam 48 from beneath the follow-er 47 so that the weight 45 may reversely rotate the bearings '42 until the roller 30 again forces the board 28 against the roller 29 to again raise the hammer head17 for the repetition of the cycle, andthe cam 48 being provided with a finger 148 to prevent overthrow.

The embodiment of invention herein shown includes however means, for interrupting the continuous repetition of this cycle,

comprising a pair of dogs 56 and 57 mounted on eccentrics and 160 carried by pins 58 and 59 supported in the dog bracket 27 carried on the 'mounting plate 26, the dog 56 being eccentrically mounted on the pin 58 so that rotation of the pin 58 may be resorted to in order to take up wear, and the dog 57 being ecce ntrically mounted on the pin 59 so that rotation ofthe pin: 59 will result in advancing or retracting the dog 57,'ad-

vancing the dog 57 tofcause the board 28 to be gripped between the dog 57 and the dog 56,andretracting the dog 57 to'free the board 28; The pin 59is biased to dog advanced position by means of a lever 61' provided with a-biasing weight 62, but'the pin 59 may ing plate 26 and provided with a bell-crank arm 65 terminating in a pocket 66 formed in a vertically reciprocable rod 67 guided at its upper end and at its lower end pivoted at 68 to a lever 69 pivoted at 70 to the rail 21 and carrying at its free end a roller 71.-

From the above it will be obvious that elevation of the rod 67 will retract the dog 57 to release the'board 26 and permit the hammer head 17 to drop, whereupon the hammer head cam 55 will engage the lever 51 to rock the verticalrshaft 49 and cause the roller 30 to advance to press the board 28 against the driving roller 29 and'efiect raising of the board until the hammer head cam 54 engages the lever 50 and reversely rocks the vertical shaft-49 to retract the roller 30 to release the board 28 to reinaugurate the cycle, and that the cycle will be repeated'until the rod 67 is lowered to permit the dog 57 to'be advanced, whereupon the board 28 Will be restrained from further movement downwardly, so that the operation of the hammer will'stop upon the next retraction of, the roller 30 and with the board 28 and hammer head 17 in elevated position clearof the die block 13 to permit free access to the work. The inaugurating lever 51 is secured to the vertical shaft 49 to permit only adjustment for variations of thickness of the die block 13, and while the drop hammer is at rest, I

' of the hammer head 17. Obviously this variation in stroke may be over any desired range, for example, as in the present embodiment, from practically nothing up to the full stroke permitted by the dimensions of the machine, and the terminating lever 50 may be reciprocated along the vertical shaft 49 in any desired manner, for example by the mechanism herein shown, utilizing the weight ofthe lever 50 to bias the lever downwardly and raising the lever 50 by means of a vertically reciprocating bar 72 guided in the pedestal 12 and connected at 73 to a collar 74 received in a groove 174 in the hub of the lever 50.

Obviously the bar 72 may be operated by one control and the dog operating rod 67 by another control, but I find that the two may be conveniently operated by a single control, for example by the single control herein shown and comprising: a foot pedal 75 pivoted at 76 to the pedestal 12 and provided with a bell-crank arm 77 towhich is pivoted at 78 a rack 79 which is slidably supported in brackets 80 mounted on a plate 81 carried by the pedestal 12 and meshes with a pinion 82 carried by a shaft 83 mounted in the plate 81 and carrying a gear 84E which meshes with a rack 85 formed on the lower end of the bar 72; and a shoulder 86 formed on the bar 72 near the upper end thereof and on which normally rests the roller 71 of the lever 69 by which the dog operating rod 67 is operated; the connections being such that initial depression of the foot pedal 7 raises the bar 72 sutficiently to lift the lever 69 to lift the rod 67 an amount sufficient to effect retraction of the dog 57 and permit initiation of the operation of the hammer, but on a very short stroke due to the fact that the terminating arm 50 is in its lowest position, and that further depression of the foot pedal 75 further raises i the terminating lever 50 to increase the stroke of the hammer head 17 yet without effect on the dog 57 because the roller 71 passes from the shoulder 86 and merely rides along the side of the bar 72.

In the hammer herein shown the belts 32 are driven from pulleys 87 mounted on the two sides of a jack shaft 88 supported in bearings89 rising from an upper base 90 above which is an electric motor 91 connected to the jack shaft 88 by a chain belt 92 passing over a pulley 93 on the motor shaft 94 and a pulley 95 on the jack shaft 88. The upper base 90 is supported by brackets 96 from the bearings 36 carrying the rollers 29 and 30, and the motor 91 is supported by a motor base 97 directly supporting the motor 91 and itself supported from the upper base 90 by four resilient supports 98 each comprising a rod 99 passing through an aperture 100 in the upper base 90 and an aperture 101 in the motor base 97, screw threaded at its upper and lower vends to receive upper nuts 102 and lower nuts 103, encircled between the m0- tor base 97 and the upper base 90 by a supporting spring 104 and a rubber bushing 105, and encircled between themotor base 97 and the upper nuts 102 by a balancing spring 106, this mounting seeming not only to support the motor with suiiicient resiliency to prevent its being pounded to pieces by the'jar from the hammer but also to maintain tension on the belt 92.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious to those skilled. in the art that I have produced a new and improved drop hammer, and particularly a new and improved control means and drive therefor, and accordingly that I have accomplished at least the principal object of my invention. At the same time those skilled in the art will realize that the embodiment of my invention herein shown includes advantages other than those specifically pointed out or suggested herein, and also that this particular embodiment may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing the advantages thereof, accordingly it will be understood that the disclosure herein is illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim 1. A drop hammer machine, comprisin 'z a hammer unit, including a hammer; actuating means for elevating said hammer; a trip means operatively related to said actuating means and adjustable along the path of said hammer, adapted to be engaged by said hammer unit to operate said actuating means to permit said hammer to drop; power means operatively connected with said trip means for moving said trip means along such path and for holding said trip means in adjusted position therealong; and means under the control of the operator for actuating said power means.

2. A drop hammer machine, comprising: a hammer unit, including a hammer; actuating means for elevating said hammer; a trip means operatively related to said actuating means and adjustable along the path of said hammer, said trip means being mounted for. movement laterally of such path, an d adapted to be engaged by said hammer unit to be so moved to operate said actuating means to permit said hammer to drop; powe means operatively connected with said trip means for moving said trip means along such path and for holding said trip means in adjusted position therealong; and means under the control of the operator for actuating said power means.

3. A drop hammer machine, comprising: a hammer unit, including a hammer; actuating means for elevating said hammer; a trip means operatively related to said actuating means and adjustable along the path of said hammer, said trip means being mounted for movement lateral y of such path, and adapted to be engaged by said hammer unit to be so moved to operate said actuating means to permit said hammer to drop; power means operatively connected with said trip means for moving said trip means along such path and for holding said trip means in adjusted position therealong; and means under the control of the operator for actuating said power means; the engaging surfaces between said hammer unit and said trip means including a cam for producing a wiping action during engagement, substantially to prevent accidental movement of said trip means along such path by such engagement.

4. A drop hammer machine, comprising: ahammer unit, including a hammer 5 actuating means for elevating said hammer; an

oscillatable rod disposed along the path of with said trip means for moving said trip means along said osclllatable rod and for holding said trip means in adjusted position therealong; and means under the control of the operator for actuating said power means.

5. A drop hammer. machine, comprising:

7 a hammer unit, including a hammer; actuating means for elevating said hammer; an oscillatable rod disposed along the pathof said hammer; means for transmitting oscillatory movement ofsaid rod to said actuating means to actuate the latter to permit said hammer to drop; a trip means mounted on and adjustable axially along said oscillatable rod, and movable laterally of said path, and adapted to be so moved by said hammer unit, to oscillate saidoscillatable rod and operate said actuating means to permit said hammer to drop; power means operatively connected with said trip means for moving said trip means along said oscillatable rod and for holding said trip means in adjusted position therealong; and means under thecontrol of the operator for actuating said power means; the engaging surfaces between said hammer unit and said trip means including a cam for producing a wiping action during engagement substantially to' prevent accidental movement or said trip means along such path by such engagement. 7

, 6. A drop hammer machine, comprising: a hammer unit, including a hammer operable between extreme limits of travel; actuating means for elevating "said hammer; a trip means operatively related to said actuating means and adjustable along the path of said hammer, adapted to be engaged by said hammer unit to operate said actuating means to permit said hammer to drop; power means operatively connected with said trip. means for moving said trip means along such path throughout the entire range of said travel of said hammer and for holding said tripmeans in any adjusted position therealong; an means under the control of the operator for actuating saidpower means. i

7. A drop hammer machine, comprising:

a hammer unit, including a hammer; actuating means for elevating said hammer; a trip means operatively related to said actuating means and mounted for free travel along the path of said hammer either when the hammer machine is continuously operating or when d i 10."A drop machine is continuously operating or when the hammer machine is at rest; and means under the control of theoperator for actuating said power means.

8. A drop hammer machine, comprising: a hammer unit, including a hammer operable between extreme limits or travel; actuating means for elevating'said hammer; a trip means operatively related to said-actuating means and mounted for free travel along the path of said hammer either when the hammer machine is continuously operating or when the hammer machine is at rest, adapted to be engaged by said hammer unit atany point in its travel to operate said actuating means to permit said hammer to drop; power means operatively connected with said trip means for moving said trip means along such path throughout the entire range of said travel of said hammer and for holding said trip means in any adjusted position therealong either when the hammer machine is continuously operating or when the hammer machine is at rest; and means under the controlor" the operator for actuating said power means.

9. A drop hammer machine, comprising: a hammer unit, including a hammer; actuating means for elevating said hammer; a trip means operatively related to said actuating means and mounted for free travel along the path of said hammer either when the hammer machine is continuously operating or when the hammer machine is at rest, said trip means being mounted for movement laterally of'such path, and adapted to be engaged by said hammer unit at any point in its travel and laterally moved by said hammer unit to operate said actuating means to permit said hammer to drop; power means operatively connected with said trip means for moving said trip means along such path and for holding said trip means in adjusted position therealong either when-the hammer machine is continuously operating or when the hammer machine is at rest; and means under the control ofthe' operator for actuating said power means. V V hammer machine, comprising: a hammer unit, including a hammer; actuating means for elevating said hammer; atrip means operatively related to said actuating -mea-ns and mounted for free travel along the path of said hammer either when the hammer machine is continuously operating or when the hammer machine is at rest, said trip means being mounted for movement laterally of such path, and adapted to be engaged Ill by said hammer unit and so moved to operate said actuating means to permit said hammer to drop; power means operatively connected with said trip means for movlng sald trip means along such path and for holding along either when the hammer machine is continuously operating or when the hammer machine is at rest; and means under the control of the operator for actuating said power means; the engaging surfaces between said hammer unit and said trip means including a cam for producing a wiping action during engagement substantially to prevent accidental movement of said trip means along such path by such engagement.

11. A drop hammer machine, comprising: a hammer unit, including a hammer-head having a tailboard extending vertically upward therefrom; actuating rollers engageable with the sides of said tailboard to elevate said hammer-head, and separable to permit said hammer-head to drop; a trip means operatively related to said actuating rollers adjustable along the path of said hammer-head, adapted to be engaged by said hammer unit to separate said actuating rollers and permit said hammer-head to drop; power means operatively connected with said trip means for moving said trip means along such path and for holding said trip means in adjusted position therealong; and means under the control of the operator for actuating said power means.

12. A drop hammer machine, comprising: a hammer unit, including a hammer; actuating means for elevating said hammer; a trip means operatively connected to said actuating means and adjustable along the path of said hammer, adapted to be engaged by said hammer unit to operate said actuating means to permit said hammer to drop; arresting means for holding said hammer in an elevated position; mechanism operatively connected with said trip means for moving said trip means along such path and for holding said trip means in adjusted position therealong, said mechanism including means for controlling said arresting means; and means under the control of the operator for actuating said mechanism.

13. A drop hammer machine, comprising: a hammer unit, including a hammer; actuating means for elevating said hammer; a trip said trip means in adjusted position theremeans operatively connected to said actuating means and adjustable along the path of said hammer, adapted to be engaged by said hammer unit to operate said actuating means to permit said hammer to drop; arresting means for holding said hammer in an elevated position; mechanism operatively connected with said trip means for moving said trip means along'such path and for holding said trip means in adjusted position therealong; said mechanism having a lost-motion connection with said arresting means for releasing said arresting means and holding it released during operation of said trip means; and means under the control of the operator for actuating said mechanism,

14. A drop hammer machine, comprising: a hammer unit, including a hammer; actuating means for elevating said hammer; an adjustable trip means for varying the stroke of said hammer unit, operatively related to said actuating means, and mounted for movement laterally of the path of said hammer, and adapted to be engaged and laterally moved by said hammer unit, to operate said actuating means to permit said hammer to drop; power means operatively connected with said trip means for adjusting said trip means; and means under the control of the operator for acutating said power means.

15. A drop hammer machine,comprising: a hammer unit, including a hammer; actuating means for elevating said hammer; an adjustabletrip means for varying the stroke of said hammer unit, operatively related to said actuating means, and mounted for movement laterally of the path of said hammer, and adapted to be engaged and moved laterally by said hammer unit, to operate said actuating means to permit said hammer to drop; power means operatively connected with said trip means for adjusting said trip means; and means under the control of the operator for actuating said power means; the engaging surfaces between said hammer unit and said trip means including a cam for producing a wiping action during engagement substan tially to prevent accidental movement of said trip means by such engagement.

16. A drop hammer machine, comprising: a hammer unit, including a hammer; actuating means for elevating said hammer; a trip means operatively related to said actuatin means and adjustable along the path of sai hammer, and adapted to be engaged by said hammer unit to operate said actuating means to permit said hammer to drop; a remote manually controlled motion producing means; and means operably connecting said controlled means with said trip means for adjusting and holding the same in adjusted position.

17 A drop hammer machine, comprising: a hammer unit, including a hammer; actuating means for elevating said hammer; a trip means operatively related to said actuating means and adjustable along the path of said hammer, and adapted to be engaged by said hammer unit to operate said actuating means to permit said hammer to drop; a remote power developing means; and means operably connecting said power developing means with said trip means for adjusting and holding the same in adjusted position.

18. A drop hammer machine, comprising: a hammer unit, including a hammer; actuating means for elevating said hammer; a trip means op'eratively connected to said actuating means and adjustable along the path of said hammer, adapted to be engaged by said hammer unit to operate said actuating means to permit said hammer to drop; a remote manually controlled reciprocating means; and means operably connecting said reciprocating means to'said trip means for adjust-- ing and holding the same in adjusted position.

19. A drop hammer machine, comprising: a hammer unit, including a hammer; actuating means for elevating said hammer; a trip means operatively related to said actuating means and mounted for free travel along the path of said hammer When the hammer machine is continuously operating, adapted to be engaged by said hammer unit at any point in its travel to operate said actuating means to permit said hammer to drop; power means operatively connected With said trip means operably efi'ective during continuous operation of said hammer machine for moving said trip means along such path and for holding said trip means in adjusted position therealong; and means under the control of the operator for actuating saidpower means.

In testimony whereof I hereuntoaifix my signature.

FRANK J. VLOHEK. 

